Joel 's Blog

What keeps housing and rebounding?

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:20:09 -0500

What keeps housing from rebounding? 4/29/2008

http://www.integrityrealty.net/

As a real estate broker in a poor market, I've tried to investigate why builders continue to flood the market with new homes. I have asserted in the past that supply and demand dictate that the supply needs to be reduced to meet the demand. My question was, why do homebuilders continue to build? I received a few replies to my blog suggesting the following. One suggested that the large builders still had contracts with subcontractors that made it necessary for them to continue to build. Another suggestion was the large builders had purchased large tracts of land and needed to continue to build for that reason.

Recently I heard the answer that I believe is more close to the true reason and here it is. Due to excessive government regulation (or what I call big brother influenced by the no growth faction) a builder explained to me that it takes two to four years to get through the costly subdivision and permitting process. Because once these permits have been obtained, there is a certain deadline to begin construction. If the builder does not continue and at least start the project before this deadline passes, they will have to begin this nightmare process again, loosing many thousands in the process.

Another interesting development in our area, is the power company making power extensions more expensive. The power company in our area has gone in a years time from first doing away with a free 1000 foot extension, and instead offering a $5,000 allowance toward construction cost. However, the power company controlled the construction through their in-house contractors. I'm sure most of us can imagine with the power company controlling the cost of construction, it would not be hard to get this $5,000 allowance back with a higher estimated construction cost.

It is my understanding that the power company convinced the Corporation commission that they could hold rates down. Or would not need to raise rates as much if they could do away with these free power extensions. As I told the Corporation commission staffer, they will get that back in six months, when they come in for the next rate increase. Which they did. Not only have they gone back for another increase. They also have done away with the $5,000 allowance toward construction.

I've heard several examples of extensions that would have been free a year ago. Now being $20-$30000. And we wonder why the cost of homes have not balanced with the market.

The cost of excessive government regulation, ridiculous permitting requirements and time frames, and the no growth factions working through the government and the semi-governmental utility companies are all passed on to the buyer's. Worse than that most people must finance their new home. So in the end, they finance this additional cost over a 30 year period and pay interest on it inside their loan.

Next time you ask yourself why the housing market has not rebounded you might consider the examples above. What the no growth factions are too shortsighted to see, is their children and grandchildren will suffer the inability to afford housing, because of their ill thought out politics.

Joel Lawson

Great Solar Home In The Arizona White Mountains

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:06:22 -0500

I am passionate got so many subjects. Sometimes I forget I'm a real estate broker. So today at like to showcase a self-sufficient solar home. In this case, I get to have my cake and eat it too. Because I am also passionate about promoting solar and wind generated power.

This 2006, 2240 ft.² three bedroom two bath with a bonus office sets on 43 fenced acres. The home is a triplewide Schultz manufactured home with a permanent foundation and stem wall. The private well is into the Coconino sandstone aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in Arizona. The home features laminate floors from wall-to-wall large bedrooms and a formal dining room.

There is a covered front deck and open rear deck.

With Both Solar and Wind Power plus back up generator. Best of all, although not currently run in to the home the grid power is approx 150' from the home. But why would you want a power bill?

Wind Generator

Juniper Forest and view of Black MesaThe property is 43 acres that is completely fenced. The property starts in a meadow travels across the large arroyo and then to the top the Hill where the home is located near the boundary of state land. There are rock features near the home. These large bolders have worn indentations that may have been used by the , Native Americans, grind corn. Pottery shards and arrowheads have been found on the property.

Sunset in Snowflake

See this listing and more at http://www.integrityrealty.net/

Or call me at 866-844-7053 for more info on this home.

Joel N. Lawson

Owner/Broker

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C.

Our president has died.

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:13:24 -0500

Our president has died. 4/9/2008

http://www.joellawson.com/ joel@joellawson http://www.integrityrealty.net/

With the recent death of our president and by our President, I mean, president of the NRA. Mr. Charleston Heston. It seems like a good time to remind all of us at our gun rights or Second Amendment rights are always in jeopardy. By researching and results of other countries who have banned citizens owning weapons. You will find a rise in crime and a reduction in freedom soon follows. Although I devote, a great deal of time on property rights, constitutional rights and civil rights in general are my passion and concern.

Every young parent should be sure they have read the book "Animal Farm" it was part of my school curriculum and should be a part of today's curriculum. In my opinion, a good parent and patriot would desire that their children read both. Animal farm, and George Orwell's 1984, (where I believe the term "Big Brother" was coined). These are classics whose assumptions have proven true over time. Nostradamus never made such clear and precise predictions as these two books did.

Click on the link below to see a wonderful speech by Charles Heston. I thank my sister in law for forwarding it to me.

http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/heston_culture_war/2008/04/06/85865.html?s=al

Hang on tight to your rights once lost their lost forever.

Joel Lawson

Real Estate Broker

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C.

Second Amendment supporter? You have to see this.

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:58:19 -0500

This says it all. It only takes a few minutes to watch this http://www.nraila.org/Multimedia/MMPlayer_Set.aspx?ID=105

They keep trying to take our right to own guns. The anti gun folks tried the front door, then the back door, then the side window and they will keep trying to get their ideas in to law. If we don't make time to continue to fight them they will some day succeed. HOLD ON TIGHT TO YOUR RIGHTS!

http://www.integrityrealty.com/

http://www.joellawson.com/

Joel Lawson

Should we really tried to fix the subprime crisis.

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 14:20:56 -0500

Politics in the Real Estate market 3/9/2008

joel@joellawson.com

http://www.joellawson.com/

http://www.integrityrealty.net/

As a real estate broker. I watched closely the news and other information about our current real estate market. Trying as we all are to figure out how did we get here, and how do we get back.

Being in the midst of a presidential campaign, we hear the politicians talk about economic stimulus packages and solving the subprime mortgage crisis. My question is, who do they really want to bail out the American people, or the large corporations who made obscene profits inflating real estate prices. So that they could package, nonconforming ill-advised loans and sell them to unsuspecting investors as AAA investments.

Isn't the reality of the situation that those most responsible for this are now whining and begging the government to restore their ability to continue making the obscene profits, they've become accustomed to at the expense of the American citizen. In other words gee, we have a God-given right to a luxurious lifestyle and even though, we've made poor decisions, at best, and quite possibly used corrupt and immoral business practices to finance this lifestyle. Now that it is at risk. We expect our political cronies to restore it to us. Unfortunately, in the corporate world, these CEOs, chairman of the board, etc. can arrange to make huge salaries and profits, while their corrupt ways cost only very shareholders the government and us.

We need to allow these people to take their lumps pay for their own bad decisions. As the working man does. The only away to have a true market based correction to our housing market is to allow those who made poor decisions to take their losses. Only then will the market corrects itself and begin working properly.

Off the subject but something to think about. It's my understanding that Barack Obama's mother is white. Why is it we call him the first "black man" with a chance to become president. Is it possible he calls himself black instead of white for a reason.

Joel Lawson

Presidential elections in the real estate market.

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:33:11 -0600

Real Estate and the presidential election. 2/29/2008 http://www.integrityrealty.net/ joel@joellawson.com

In my opinion, a good deal of our current real estate market and economy woes, are precipitated by unscrupulous politicians.

The Democrats and the liberal press are more than happy to destroy the housing market and our economy in general. So that they can claim a bad economy needs to be fixed by the Democrats. The worse they can make things look during a presidential election with an incumbent Republican. The more likely, the sheep of this world will buy into their strategy.

The reality is the general public is being harmed, egregiously by those who would intentionally cause mass hysteria in order to achieve political gain.

I personally would be so offended by this course of action as not to vote for anyone using these tactics. Regardless of other redeeming attributes.

However, being a Republican in all fairness, I must say that Republicans had caved in for the sake of votes. They have begun to act like left-wing Democrats accepting bailout proposals, knowing full well they must go this direction, to counter the Democrat strategy. For instance if they had not agreed to 466 billion in the earmarks/pork to fix the alternative minimum tax. For one lousy year! The Democrats would have been able to blame Republicans for it not having been fixed. Again, in fairness, we have a few selfish vote seeking Republicans, who go along with the bring the pork home agenda.

The problem becomes, the overall political system and cronyism in our country. Because we as a public buying into soundbites refuse to think for ourselves. And truly analyze what's been told to us. Any good politician cannot remain in office to do the right thing without compromising their beliefs, to appease those who believe in the line of tripe promoted by the dishonest and unscrupulous.

Again, in my opinion, if it were not a political season Republicans would not co-operate with Democrats involving government in the free market. The only way our housing crisis will correct itself is through market forces. Each time the government tries to manipulate the economy. It only prolongs the inevitable.

So, the Democrats are willing to sacrifice our economy so that people will believe, they are needed to rescue us. Republicans are willing to sacrifice our economy in order to have an appearance of a good economy going into elections. If the general public, did more thinking for themselves and could see the forest for the trees. It would not be necessary for Republicans to do this in order to garner votes.

However, you can take advantage of their political shenanigans by investing in real estate. Especially land, while the market is artificially deflated by these yahoos. We believe at Integrity Realty we have some opportunities for those interested in investing in a down market. Of course, there are no guarantees, as with any investment but we feel like this is a great time, because as soon as we have a new administration they will begin to tell you how good the economy is, thus improving the market. See our listings and a tour of Snowflake, Arizona at http://www.integrityrealty.net/ Snowflake has become an escape destinations from large cities in California, Nevada and the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas. Having only been discovered (due to new and improved transportation corridors) recently and with our reasonable prices, large parcels, mild four season climate and our very large water aquifer we are a great investment opportunity. Better yet, we are an even better place to relocate your family or retire to escape the rat race.

Are American citizens an economic experiment?

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:15:08 -0600

2/08/2008 Sand through the hour glass http://www.integrityrealty.net/ joel@joellawson.com

As a real estate broker experiencing the fallout of our subprime market, I have a few thoughts to share on what appears to me to be a draconian experiment.

I listened to the political pundits talk about our consumer driven economy. They talk about getting people back to spending to solve our economic problems. This morning I heard them talking about raising the limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. So people could borrow more to buy expensive homes.

Isn't the problem really that people have borrowed too much, and consumes too much on credit. This consumer-based economy. In my opinion is all part of the big experiment.

The experiment, covers a lot of aspects of our lives. Do you remember, when television commercials, and even government public service announcements were urging us to stay away from butter and eat margarine, because it was so much better for you. The definition of margarine is lard, cooking oil, grease. This of course is much better for you then butter. Or could it be. It was an experiment to see how well they could acclimate our bodies to eating things other than real food. Remember the soft chocolate chip cookies made from plastic? Do you not find it interesting that you can be on camera, dozens of times a day, but we can't find an Al Qaeda leader. Our government knows more about where we are and what we are doing than the Chinese government knows about their citizens.

I believe similar experiments are being conducted on the American citizen today. Can the average citizen be baited with goodies, widgets, toys etc. Can they make us so dependent and addicted to consumption that we will gladly take on the mentality of aunt farm residents. The analogy that comes to mind is an hourglass. The grains of sand in this hourglass represent the energy a human can produce over his lifetime. Each time some sand falls into the bottom chamber it is energy, you no longer have. I define energy as your ability to produce something of value.

Remember when the press and the powers that be preached saving. That was because in our American dream. We could use our grains of sand to produce a future for ourselves. We could buy a home, save for retirement and have a place to die. Hopefully by the time, all of our sand had run through the hourglass. We had worked saved and accumulated enough to get us through the part of our life remaining after our sand had run out.

However, those who would perpetrate economic slavery upon us, have decided our sand is not being converted to their use quickly enough. How can they speed up this process, they ask themselves. Answer: why don't we convince them to use their sand before, it would normally make its way through the glass? This way, our consumer-based economy can prosper and we can get even more of their sand quicker by charging interest to boot.

The part of this concept, they have not perfected, was what to do when everyone or most everyone had used up their sand. One way is to do what they're doing now. Get away from a marketing driven economy, put more money or liquidity into the system so their economic slaves can prematurely spend more of their sand. Anyone with any capacity for reason can see, this cannot go on forever.

Instead of raising Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's Limit. Why not let the market adjust and expect people to come to the realization that they can only buy as much home as their income will allow. I've said before convincing people to take on more debt to drive the economy is further driving the American citizen into economic slavery, for the benefit of those collecting interest.

I know it's a radical concept to expect people to do without all their goodies. God forbid, our children should have to entertain themselves by taking a walk, reading a book or using their imagination. It would certainly be the end of the world if one teenager could not text another.

In closing, don't let them steal your sand. You only have so much. Don't forget to teach your children that they only have so much sand. And each of us should insist that our children are taught about compound interest in school. This should probably be done right before P.E. class. That's physical education in case some of your children are unfamiliar with that term.

Bottom of the market can you time it?

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 11:26:27 -0600

Can you time the bottom 1/25/2008

http://www.integrityrealty.net/ Equal Housing Opportunity

Prices are down supplies are up and have been for over a year. Is this the time to buy? If you're buying a home to live in, I think it's a great time to buy. If you're investing over the long term, I also think it's a great time to buy.

A quick example or case study of real estate over time, specifically raw land. In 1958, a piece of raw land was purchased at $500 this year it is in escrow for $20,000. If my math is right that is 4000% increase divided over 50 years thats 80% per year. This property was purchased at the top of the market and it's being sold, in what is undoubtedly a slow market.

Snowflake, Arizona is a fast-growing rural area with a huge underground aquifer. We are known as a place to escape the overbearing city life. Over the last few years, escaping folks from California, Phoenix and other large metropolitan areas have relocated here. Many people have purchased land that is typically less expensive than other parts of the state. Why? Because we have only recently been discovered. Prices are down supplies are up. If you're ready to get back into the real estate market, or just want to buy a place to retire and beat future inflation, this could be your opportunity!

Check out our inventory and a tour of Snowflake at http://www.integrityrealty.net/ or call me Joel Lawson a 866-844-7053

Do they call themselves conservatives, just to get our vote.

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 18:01:19 -0600

What is a conservative today. 1/12/2008 http://www.integrityrealty.net/

Today, while watching Fox news once again than I was disappointed in a so-called conservative.

When George Bush ran for office. I believed in him. I thought he was a conservative. But my definition of conservative is someone who conserves the Constitution of the United States. I never believed that President Bush would have eroded our right to privacy in the way that he has.

Back to Fox news I heard Jack Welch and multimillionaire businessman, and I thought conservative say why you complain about wiretaps? If you're not done anything wrong, what does it matter. As I said in previous blogs those are some of the scariest words I can hear. The problem with that is what if the government decides free speech is wrong. Then does it matter? What if the government decides the Second Amendment will no longer be enforced then will it matter? In the next segment on Fox. Thre was a pie faced kid, who apparently has more money than this old man arguing with another pundit about legalizing marijuana. The thing that struck me in this argument was a specific exchange. The gentleman on the side of legalizing marijuana, said he believed in personal freedom. He further stated that a legal adult should have the personal freedom to smoke marijuana in his own home in if they liked. The other wealthy conservative, said sometimes, the government needs to decide how much freedom in person can have (in so many words). When a conservative makes the previous statement, and someone like Jack Welch makes a statement that he did I have to doubt whether or not. I still believe conservatism.

Conservatives also used to mean moral values. If that's the case how did the Republican Congress and President allow God to be so maligned in schools and government buildings, etc. I really fear that being a conservative no longer means confining the government's power and moral values. It seems, a conservative now means let the rich get richer. Jack Welch also made a comment about how many jobs are created by corporations. However, during the same period of time, the host ask another guest if his company was getting ready to go public. They referred to going public is an exit strategy. An exit strategy for the investors. This means to me that corporate investors invest in building a company then go public and take a lot of cash out of the company. Leaving the average investor holding stock in a company where corporate wages are obscene. Especially that of the CEOs. So who ends up holding the bag, and the average investor. And I know we all believe that working for large corporations and making these investors and CEOs rich is a sweet deal for all the people they hire with no concern for loyalty healthcare etc.. When was the last time you heard of a secure 20 year retirement and a gold watch.

So now I don't know who to believe in. I know it's not Obama who in my opinion is an inroad for radical Islamist. And if what I've seen on the Internet is true. His father, and possibly stepfather could be involved in radical Islam. Hillary Clinton in my opinion, as part of the same Ivy League educated elitist group that Bush belongs to. So far, John McCain or Mike Huckabee. The only presidential candidates, I could consider. John McCain for his principles and Mike Huckabee, for his stand on taxes and with any luck. True Christian morals.

Are you tired of gotcha politics 2008 elections.

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:17:04 -0600

2008 Elections Presidential and the gotcha factor. Opinion 1/9/08.

http://www.integrityrealty.net/ joel@joellawson.com

Few people seem to recognize what the past 16 years of politics have been. It is been a series of tit-for-tat. The Republicans sick and Star on Bill Clinton. Then Bush is elected, and they go after Newt Gingrich. The American public needs to hold our elected officials to a higher standard than gotcha. While they are playing gotcha, we're getting got.

This is never going to stop until voters stop reacting to charges and counter charges about people's personal lives. I personally don't care what Bill Clinton did with a cigar, or who had an affair on his wife. I care about how the individual is going to run our country. Al Sharpton. So far has not had anything bad come out in the press about his personal life. But I did hear you say on Fox news that he didn't see anything wrong with porkbarrel earmarks ( in so many words ). I would prefer that he goes out and does something kinky and leave our money alone.

When you look at all the pork barrel money that was spent by every senator or congressman who could get their fingers in the pot, in return for their vote to patch the alternative minimum tax fiasco. A little infidelity seems more moral than sodomizing the country as a whole to bring home the bacon. The next time they get ready to fix the alternative minimum tax, since it was only a patch, they'll all have their fingers in the pot again.

I've heard all of the candidates on your new frenzy for change. I've heard it said they will change their message, because talking about change seemed to resonate with voters. These candidates forget to tell you, they can have all the great ideas in the world but if they're not willing to pay enough of our tax payer money to grease these people they can't change anything.

When will we remember what people are doing and make them pay with our vote.

The only way we will ever stop the gotcha politics and pork barrel spending is to stop voting for anyone who participates in these activities.

I personally have been favorably impressed with Mike Huckabee because he seems committed to changing the tax code. I would hope that if he is elected he will be equally committed to reducing spending and especially pork barrel spending. I also very much like to hear John McCain say that if he were president he will make the authors of these spending bills famous. You see currently, we don't have anyone with the guts or fortitude to make these people famous. The reason for this is they are afraid they will need their vote to get something else accomplished and having outed them as frivolous spenders, they won't be able to get their cooperation. Well we should make them famous again, for refusing to vote in favor of something favorable to our citizens out of gotcha politics.

Are you tired of gotcha politics 2008 elections.

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:17:03 -0600

2008 Elections Presidential and the gotcha factor. Opinion 1/9/08.

http://www.integrityrealty.net/ joel@joellawson.com

When will we remember what people are doing and make them pay with our vote.

The only way we will ever stop the gotcha politics and pork barrel spending is to stop voting for anyone who participates in these activities.

The place to buy in 2008 Snowflake, AZ.

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:24:21 -0600

Why is Snowflake, AZ. the place to buy in 2008 12/29/07

Joel Lawson
owner broker
integrity Realty and Associates, LLC
www.integrityrealty.net
joel@joellawson.com

As most people know Phoenix, Tucson, Sedona, Chino Valley, Payson and Flagstaff Arizona are markets, where prices have reached all-time highs. Land in those areas can go from 30,000 to 100,000 or more per acre. Homes in these areas, also have some pretty big prices.

In Snowflake, AZ. A community in the White Mountains of Arizona where prices for land start as low as $1200 per acre. Our elevation is close to that of Payson with similar vegetation. We have the luxury of sitting atop the largest underground aquifer in Arizona, and possibly the Midwest. Many of the communities mentioned above have water concerns that will only grow worse in the future. We have access within 30 minutes to an hour and 20 minutes two sking, fishing, hunting, and national Forest.

We enjoy a small town atmosphere with all the amenities. We are three hours from Phoenix on mostly new highways, and one hour and 45 minutes from Flagstaff on I-40. Many of our properties are 20 to 40 acre parcels. But if that's what you prefer, we have golf course lots with 27 holes of golf. From 1/4 to 1 acre.

So why is Snowflake, a good place to buy in 2008? Because unlike the communities mentioned above, e have only recently been discovered and prices are much lower then these areas even before the recent corrections. After the correction, we will still enjoy our newfound popularity, for those wishing to escape the city. In my opinion. It's only a matter of time before we enjoy the same higher real estate values as other parts of the state do.

So let's recap. You can buy 40 acres for as little as $1200 per acre on a great water table with lots of elbow room, it's a great place for horses, quads, solar energy or living green. With inventories up. We have lots to choose from at prices poised to take off to new highs. You can escape the big city and live the RFD lifestyle, while being only minutes away from stores shops, restaurants and activities. Relatively low crime great schools and good neighbors. When you own 40 acres. It's easy to have good neighbors. Good neighbors don't come sit in your living room uninvited but do show up in your time of need.

Don't take my word for any of these things. Check out our website at www.integrityrealty.net. Click on tour of the town to see our little slice of all-American apple pie. Click on solar homes for solar information and view our inventory of homes and land for sale. Or feel free to call me Joel Lawson, toll free at 866-844-7053 I'll be happy to talk with you personally and answer any of your questions about our area. No one knows for sure, but this could be a fleeting opportunity to buy low and enjoy the highs that are coming to this area.

Happy new years, and we'll see you in 2008.

Are builders killing the housing come back?

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:07:18 -0600

Are Builders hurting the Real Estate come back?

Blogger from Snowflake, Arizona

Joel Lawson

joel@joellawson.com

www.integrityrealty.net

Watching the news this morning, they talked about one of the major builders showing a loss of $466 million. Yet, it seems they continue to build. Anyone paying attention in basic business classes understands supply and demand. We all know, the supply is high and the demand is low. So why not back off the building for a while? Let the supplies dwindle to match demand. Instead, the wisdom of these corporations seems to be to continue building. So in essence, they would much rather build homes that they have to discount, sometimes 100,000 to 150,000 to entice buyers.

Does this mean they can still make a reasonable profit charging 100,000 less? Or does it go to corporations who pay executives large amounts, even when they're not making money. Something stinks. I've tried to understand why these large homebuilding corporations continue to oversupply the market.

We have the Europeans equivalent of the fed pumping liquidity into their financial markets. We have our fed pumping liquidity into our financial markets. We are bailing out lenders, who made bad loans. We have homeowners and investors who took out bad loans being bailed out. All in an attempt to continue the cycle, that got us here in the first place.

It seems to me. They are prolonging this crisis by not allowing the market forces like supply and demand to correct this problem. If we don't let the excess inventory go away it will never change. Prices will continue to be deflated.

I am currently being punished as a realtor and a citizen for making good decisions, because of the bad decisions made out of greed and excess by both the lenders and buyers/investors. As a realtor, who was never in the business of getting marginal or less than marginal buyers into mortgages, they could not afford to pay and did not profit from this. My company and myself individually are suffering because of those who did. Am I the only one, who sees the poor morals of working to get someone into a mortgage they can't afford. The worthy borrower, who would like to have a home to live in, rather than hoping to double their money overnight are now afraid to buy. Even if they were not afraid to buy the lending standards will now make it much more difficult for them when they are ready. As an individual who bought the house I could afford and did not over extend myself, I will suffer the consequences created by those who did. Such as inflation created by all this cash being pumped into the market to maintain liquidity in the lending industry and a possible recession brought on by the same actions. Not to mention what they're doing to our dollar.

It appears that when you live by the rules, don't get greedy and live within your means you will be forced to pay the price, for those who were out to make a quick buck keeping up with the Joneses and over extending themselves. Many of whom bought unnecessary crap on credit cards, and then gave up their security in the form of equity in their homes to pay off these excesses.

When you wonder why so few people are responsible in this day and age. This might be a perfect example of why. There is a fellow named Jonathan, (whose last name I don't want to butcher) Honig or something like that on Fox news business segments, who agrees with me that we should not bail these people out. And he is right. However, when speaking of him I am compelled to mention that he also continually references. The fact that he should not have to give up the money that he earned to help to the less fortunate. Although I am not a believer in taking money that someone earned and then giving it to someone who refuses to work. I also wonder if Jonathan believes his Ivy League education and stock trading skills are really more valuable than the sweat blood and tears of the working person. Who really earned more, and who was simply better at getting it from the average man through a few mouse clicks. Forgive me. He's been bugging me with that I earned it stuff. So I had to indulge myself here.

Two end. You corporate builders, who can use our tax system, which has been manipulated to benefit large corporations, while losing a half a billion dollars, stop oversupply in the market, let supply catch up with demand before you take this country down.

Mortgage crisis or credit card debit chicken or egg

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:27:06 -0600

It amazes me that in all the news with talking heads, analyzing. They wonder why are we having such problems with the housing market and the mortgage process?

While there are a number of reasons some of which don't seem to be covered by the media. Credit card debt is certainly one of the biggest problems. Not only in the mortgage crisis, but in the home sales market.

I've covered this topic before, but I like to talk about it as often as possible hoping more and more people will become cognizant of the true driving force in our world. You see, there are bankers, and there are people. The bankers have one goal, which is to increase their fortunes by charging interest to people. Over the past few years or decades, bankers have become aware of one area in which people might have money that they weren't currently able to charge interest on. So in my possibly twisted mind I envision a group of bankers, who used to be referred to as the Rothschilds Rockefellers etc.. Who knows what the real names are now. In any case, they sit around a table and say listen guys were charging interest on almost everything and we've even charged interest on the equity mom-and-pop have accumulated in their homes. Now the question is, with all the money out of circulation, and just sitting in home equity with the average Joe. How do we get that back to paying more interest again? Now after a little brainstorming this group of jolly bankers come to the conclusion that this is what they should do.

( Jolly bankers) First, we will train people to buy now and pay later. Of course we did that with home mortgages and automobiles long ago but how about training them that they can have any nonessential item they want right now. Even if they don't have the money right now. Now comes the idea from the jolly bankers to issue credits. This way people can have what they want right now and pay later. Better yet were tired of the old style interest, where we get comfortably rich. Lets come up with something were we can beed these economic slaves even more. How about compound interest that should really make us some money.

This went along real well for several decades, the economic slaves busily working their lives away buying happily the records then the eight tracks, and the cassettes, CDs, DVDs, HDTV etc. Further enslaving themselves and so on and so on.

Enter stage left, the jolly bankers once again. Okay these slaves are running out of money to buy frivolous junk on our credit cards. This could become a problem, because if they can't pay their credit cards they will default and we will lose money and worst of all interest payments. How can we keep these economic slaves, producing more for us.

Okay, here's what we do we use some of this money collected from the economic slaves and use that to buy influence the Congress. Then, because we have Begged, Cheated, Conned and mis-lead millions into near bankruptcy with our most generous credit card offers, lets change the bankruptcy laws.

We have already figured out ways to jack up the interest rate and charge excess fees to the slaves who don't work hard enough and pay fast enough. When that wasn't enriching us enough. We threw in a little fine print so that even if they were working hard enough and paying fast enough we could watch their credit rating and charge them higher interest and usury rates. If their credit scores in other areas began to show weakness. Nothing more fun than kicking a slave while he's down.

Now guys. We also own insurance companys. We have managed to make many insurances compulsory by law again, putting the economic slaves money to good use. For this and other reasons let us attach the ability to get reasonable insurance rates to a good credit score. Now, let's make having credit part of having a good credit score.

Okay now that we've accomplished all this. Lets all of those with equity in their home have easy mortgages even with a poor credit score. Why would we want to do this? Because now we can take all this home equity mom-and-pop have in their homes and let them borrow against it. So that they can pay off the credit card debt and begin to spend again. That's right you guessed it now we have the unused equity from most every home in the country re-spent on credit cards, and we can take the money that we are charging six to 8% on let the fools spend that on credit cards and with all our clever schemes. Charge them another 20 to 30%.

So ask yourself at this point. Can this be affecting the average persons ability to sell their home and move especially with prices dropping in many areas. Can this affect the average person trying to save for a down payment on their first home.

It seems to me that bankers and credit card companies were given carte blanche to offer credit to unworthy borrowers and then had the bankruptcy laws changed to ensure after enticing these poor economic slaves in every way possible, using every psychology to take these credit cards. They have now been slave them further by preventing them from bankrupting out of these debts, which can be modified to the lender's advantage at any time.

There are those who will say that it is the borrowers fault for accepting these credit cards or arm loans etc. And they should be made to pay for their own mistakes. Those people do not say anything about what I've previously written. Living Green can mean having some money.

Joel Lawson

http://www.integrityrealty.net/

joel@joellawson.com

Conspiracy against Solar, Wind, and Alternative Energy

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 14:18:05 -0600

Solar conspiracy is this the reason technology is slow to improve. Dec 2, 2007

Years ago I would say approximately 1979 or maybe 1978. I was training for a new job. For this job. I was required to buy a new calculator. This was significant to me at the time because the cost was somewhere around $350. Today, a calculator that will carry out the same functions can be found at your local dollar store for as little as five dollars. Why, because of mass production, competition and innovation.

So why has solar and wind energy evolved so slowly? I've pondered this for a number of years. For some reason thinking this was just some sort of oversight and a lack of interest from the consumer.
However, I've come to the conclusion that there are far more complicated issues involved.

Consider all of the conventional profit motives, that will be affected should affordable solar become prevalent and widely used. How many different ways are our fossil fuels taxed before they reach the consumer? How many of the old establishment profit engines will be affected by our using less oil? When you get your power bill are their taxes? When you buy oil are their taxes? When you don't buy oil or gasoline, who are the people affected? Could it be Exxon, Mobil, Shell, Citco and other large oil companies? Can you imagine these companies with a large oil refineries, looking forward to less oil use? If you follow this through to the government or should I say layers of government who each apply taxes, all through the process. It's not hard to see that the wealthy and powerful have no motivation to wean us from foreign oil.

You might ask, what can be done about that. Well not much until we take the money out of the election process and elect people with a backbone, who will stand up to the pressure from big-money lobbyists. After that there are a number of things that can be done. Starting with government incentives for those who will produce and further innovation of alternative energies. Now, being a Republican, I think I can say without bias that you will hear the Republicans say taxpayers should not be charged for this innovation. And I'm not big on government involvement in anything. But Republicans seem to have no problems supporting government incentives, tax breaks etc. for big oil. Not to mention the fact that it was probably politicians in the back pocket of big oil and big money, who have deprived us of more efficient reasonably priced solar, wind and other alternative sources of energy. So why should they not be responsible for helping us make up time, in this area.

Currently, the cost in my area of solar and wind generation capable of supporting the average home, is approximately 25 to $35,000. In most cases, these kinds of technologies are viewed as taking too long to recoup your original investment. This is not entirely true because although it might take our standard electric bill, considerable time to add up to this amount. I believe, especially in the near future, the added value to the home and property will cover a good deal if not all of this expense. Do you believe power bills will go down? How much more can you afford to pay in a house payment if there are no utility bills?

Another way to wean ourselves on foreign oil is to reduce the longevity of patents on high-efficiency ways to use fossil fuels. This would prevent the oil companies from locking up these types of technologies. By purchasing the patents, and then preventing them from being brought to production. But I digress.

Here just a few positive aspects of developing these alternative energies. Consider that a drastic move toward solar, wind and alternative energies will lower oil prices, almost immediately. How can that be, you ask? Just as soon as the Middle East countries realize that we are serious about moving in this direction. They will also realize that once we go far enough that direction. We will not have to return to being there captive, economic slaves. Therefore, they will begin to lower oil prices in an effort to distract us from developing these technologies. Another of the positive aspects of solar, wind, geothermal and the other alternative energies is the following. When we went into Iraq in the great shock and awe, what is the first thing we annihilated? Power plants! If every house in the United States had its own self sufficient alternative energies. That would render a strategy like this impotent. And for those who are worried about big brother who is becoming more apparent when you consider your now on camera as much as 200 times a day in a large city. How much harder, would it be to control a population by depriving them of power?

So come on America must take this power away from our enemies and ensure our children are not at their mercy. If we can develop the technology to put a man on the moon in a very short period of time. We should be able to accelerate reduction in innovation of moderately priced alternative technologies, in just as short a period.

See Solar homes here http://www.aeapower.com/solar/residential-gallery/

Canadian exchange rate against the US dollar makes Arizona Real Estate an Opportunity

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:54:06 -0600

Arizona an Investment Opportunity for Canadian Investors? 11/29/07

Joel Lawson/Owner Broker

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C.

http://www.integrityrealty.net/

joel@joellawson.com

Those who read my blog know. I'm a Real Estate Broker, in Snowflake, Arizona. This post goes to the advantages for Canadians, European countries and even Arab countries investing in Arizona real estate. And to extrapolate one step further Snowflake, Arizona real estate. It appears by the Abu Dhabi investment in Citigroup, their government has already recognized the current opportunity being presented due to the subprime debacle.

Many investment experts have continue to say," down and depressed markets are an opportunity to buy" so when you combine the downmarket in Arizona with the highly advantageous exchange rate due to the low dollar. Real Estate in Arizona, should be listed under opportunity in the dictionary, especially for foreign investors.

Snowflake, Arizona, was in newly discovered and emerging market before the slowdown and slated to grow tremendously. It only stands to reason, Snowflake is one of the top real estate investment opportunities, in Arizona.

If the overall real estate slump in the United States as an opportunity. The hardest hit areas should be the biggest opportunity. To illustrate this point. I am adding a few excerpts from the article I found at the following link http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/21/smbusiness/NLT_real_estate.fsb/ Under Fortune Small Business By Paul Kaihla November 28 2007: 2:53 PM EST

"DOWN MARKETS: The regions that will likely lag the national recovery are Phoenix, Las Vegas, south Florida and California's Central Valley. Although publicly-traded home builders packed these areas with inventory, prices soared beyond reason thanks to easy credit and an abundance of speculators who never intended to occupy the homes they bought."

"In some cases the inventory glut will take years to clear, even at heavily discounted prices. Phoenix currently offers about 55,000 listings, the highest in the Arizona capital's history, in addition to an estimated 15,000 spec houses."

"Builders have now dropped new three-bedroom, single-family homes as low as $130,000," says Frank Owens, a local real estate analyst and headhunter for the home-building industry. "That's unheard of. The lowest we'd see a year ago was $200,000."

"WHAT IT MEANS: In these cities, stagnation equals opportunity for entrepreneurs: Because a big slice of the local labor force was employed in the broader housing sector, the downturn has shaken loose many workers who are desperate for a new gig and not so picky about pay"

"WHAT IT MEANS: Because of tight credit and soft prices, cash-rich businesses will hold the upper hand when negotiating to buy their own property."

If your are interested in capitalizing on the excellent exchange rate by purchasing property in the US and Arizona give me a call at 928-536-7053 Equal Opportunity Housing Firm http://www.integrityrealty.net/

Foreign Investment, Why not Snowflake, Arizona great exchange rate

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:18:54 -0600

Arizona white mountains, a great place to invest in the United States as a foreign investor. 11/27/07

Although the national news continues to refer to Arizona, along with Nevada and the few other states as a place suffering some of the worst subprime problems. The foreclosures and drop in home prices in Phoenix and other large metropolitan areas, do not encompass the entire state.

The Arizona white mountains, including Snowflake are not in my opinion to be lumped in with the larger areas and here's why. Snowflake is an area that had only recently been discovered prior to the current real estate malaise, in some of the more active areas.

When you consider that Snowflake, Arizona has land prices often times half those in some better-known areas, like Prescott, Payson, Chino Valley, Lakeside Pinetop and others which have already reached peaks making investing there less than desirable at this time, add considerable issues with available water in many of these areas Snowflake is still the place to find good investment opportunities.

Snowflake is projected by many to be the new boom area of the White Mountains. It is also projected to be the center of housing development in the foreseeable future. Snowflake is unique for a number of reasons. As previously stated available water is the best in the state. Our Coconino sandstone aquifer is according to Water experts, one of the largest aquifers in the Southwest, with more than adequate supply for the foreseeable future.

With the buyers market in most areas of the country, including this one. Coupled with still reasonable land prices, sometimes half or less than prices in most areas of the state projected growth and newly discovered interest in the area. This seems a great time to buy in a buyers market that is nowhere near its future peak. As a foreign investor, when you add a very favorable exchange rates, Snowflake real estate investment looks even better.

There are a number of towns, some of them mentioned above that together comprise the combined economic community. In viewing a map of the area, Snowflake is the pen wheel of the area. This in my opinion will cause many of the larger purveyors to see this as the perfect place for warehousing and distribution to the entire white mountain area. Although not situated directly in the pine trees a 16 Mile Drive will allow you to enjoy their beauty and all that they and the National Forest have to offer. Without the disadvantages of cooler temperatures, forest fires, claustrophobia and lack of direct sunlight, in winter months.

So, if you're a foreign investor such as those from Abu Dhabi who have just invested a large amount and Citigroup or other areas outside the US such as Canada and Europe were the exchange-rate is currently excellent consider Snowflake for investment, you may want to do in the US.

You can view some of our real estate opportunities at http://www.integrityrealty.net/ or contact me directly by e-mail at joel@joellawson.com call 928-243-0199

Living Green Snowflake, Arizona Wind and Solar Power

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 14:38:24 -0600

Why is Snowflake, Arizona a great place for self sufficient living. 11-23-07
Snowflake Arizona sits at an altitude of between 5300 and 5800 feet above sea level.

Snowflake sets over the Coconino sandstone aquifer. This aquifer is one of the largest in the Southwest, with most private Wells hitting water at approximately 400 feet. In the case of my home, we hit water at 395 feet, which then rose of a static level of 265 feet. When I last checked the cost of a well including equipment was between 12 and $15,000.

Snowflake is a mild four season climate, so that you experience, the change of seasons without the drastic highs and lows.

Snowflake is high desert and what I call the Juniper forest, but is also considered the White Mountain region of Arizona. We experience mild moderate amounts of snow fall, which generally melts off the following day. This makes for great solar and wind generation. This combination of more than adequate water supplies, and very favorable conditions for alternative power sources makes this a great place for self sufficient living. There are many people in the area, who already enjoy the freedom and self-sufficiency of solar and wind generation. If you couple this with the ability to purchase large tracts of property at very reasonable prices. You have found an ideal place for your self sufficient farm, ranch, or getaway.

Another benefit to living in the area is the access to fishing lakes, Sunrise ski resort, National Forest, the Petrified National Forest, the Navajo and Apache reservations and much more.

Last but not least this area is now a great investment for countries outside the United States because of the favorable exchange rates and already great values in this buyers market.

Below I have included several links to interesting things about the area, including water resources. http://www.arizonaenergy.org/WaterEnergy/C-Aquifer.htm

http://az.water.usgs.gov/pubs/02-4026intro.htm

http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:6oM9espg5f8J:www.water.utah.gov/Planning/SWP/westcol/swp_wc19.pdf+Coconino+SandStone+Aquifer+Navajo+County+Acre+feet&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us

Thanks for reading

Joel Lawson

http://www.integrityrealty.net/

joel@joellawson.com

Green Living, Solar wind and more.

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:59:38 -0600

Green living solar and wind trends are up-and-coming. 11-15-07.

For the past 10 years, we at Integrity Realty have been selling homes, powered by solar and wind. Although we probably feature more of these type homes than most communities. The percentage of self sufficient homes, is not nearly as high as I would like to see. When I moved to Snowflake, Arizona from Phoenix in 1986. I was just within the range to hook up the grid power. Truthfully, I was 300 feet past the thousand foot cut off. Thankfully a very nice man at the power company offered to record the measurement at 1000 feet saying, the construction crew would never measure. I was able to receive a power hookup. Being a young man with a family trying desperately to find a way out of the rat race. This man did me a great service.

You see, I had found the mother earth news magazine with an article headlined, two bedroom home for under $5,000. I was very intrigued by the design of this home. It was constructed of 2x4 lumber, much like a log cabin. I carried this magazine with me to three homes in two different states, for seven years. Always hoping that I could try this type of construction. The interior wood finish was very appealing to me. I was not the first to build with this type construction. Many of those who preceded me had used pieces, they had been able to salvage in one way or another. We were fortunate enough to purchase 1600 8 foot 2x4 studs. These became our walls up to 8 feet. So in the end we were able to construct a 24 x 32 modified aframe. This allowed two bedrooms, a 12 x 20 loft, and one very nice sized bathroom. We have added another 1200 sf thanks to Real Estate.

Having purchased our first home in Phoenix at the age of 18, my wife and I had a little equity. My wife also worked for a company with profit-sharing where she had saved a little more. With the combination of the two we were able to move to Snowflake buy 11 acres of property, install a private well and septic system. Although I would very much have liked to install solar to complete a self-sufficient lifestyle finances were not available at that time.

As I mentioned before, we were right on the edge of power and 6 miles from town proper. 10 years later, I got involved in selling real estate. I quickly found I preferred selling the rural properties and homes. This gave me instant and varied exposure to a number of self sufficient or nearly self-sufficient homes. Our town being surrounded by many 40 acre parcels, and most of those in 20 acre zoning made this area ripe for those wishing to escape constraints of typical city living. 10 years or more before my arrival, many of these people had already discovered this area. They as myself and my family were intrigued by a lifestyle with few neighbors little government regulation and the ability to build a life less dependent on government infrastructure.

Being a younger man at the time and having more energy than money, this was quite the adventure. We had just enough money to drill a well which I hired out, and install a septic system which I did myself, along with purchasing the building materials. Needing all of our savings to accomplish the construction meant that I would live in a tent for six-weeks on what now is our front yard. Each day for six weeks, my wife and I worked on building our home, with occasional help from my parents. With the home dried in, we were able to move inside complete the home over a number of years.

Over the past 10 years, the nature of this area has attracted many people, who also wanted to escape the rat race and enjoy the same kind of experience that we did. However, having the privacy of being out of town has taken them farther away from the grid power. So over time. I have listed and sold wind and solar powered homes. I've also known many people who have either purchased land from our company or from other sources, who have also built homes powered by solar and wind generation. These homes are usually complemented by a private well drilled into our very large Coconino sandstone aquifer, and of course and on the site wastewater treatment plant/septic system.

Because of this over the years. I have become a bigger and bigger fan of these type homes and this lifestyle. One home that I currently have listed amuses me. It amuses me because this nice little site built home with solar power backup generator, private well and root cellar on 79 acres. Has one corner, which is crossed by the high tension high voltage power lines going to major power grids. All that power, and they don't need it or want it.

Especially over the last few years. I have become more and more convinced that the best way to keep the prices of oil a little lower. It is to develop more solar, wind and other alternative sources of energy. The beauty of this is that once we have gone there. We don't have come back to oil. To me, that is kind of poetic justice.

If you're interested in our area or some of the green living opportunities we have available, you can see the home I mentioned previously at www.integrityrealty.net the homes are listed by price. And this home is listed at $235,000. You should find several other solar properties as well. I believe the reason many with these interest located here, is the ability to still purchase, large tracts of property with elbow room at very reasonable prices. Not to mention our beautiful mild four season climate, with many sunny days and a very large supply of water. In the area where we are located wind complements the solar. Here when the sun is not shining, the wind is blowing.

Along with attracting many people interested in wind and solar. We also seen recently have begun attracting alpaca ranching. Of course, we have always been popular with horse and cattlemen.

Are Americans to busy to pay attention

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:57:43 -0600

Americans are too busy to pay attention. 11/07/07

This is a little off the subject of real estate, but not really.

It always amazes me that so much goes by and unnoticed. Concerning real estate, no one seemed to notice when the old standard of 36, 41 ratios began to disappear. For those who don't understand 36, 41 in the real estate lingo. It means that the standard ratios used by lenders to determine how much you could borrow to purchase a home were 36, and 41%. Up to 36% of your household income could go to your proposed house payment, and no more than 41% adding your proposed house payment and your essential bills combined. So for an example, if you've made $1000 per month, you can only qualify for a house payment of $360 and your house payment and bills could not add up to more than $410. So how did no one notice when lenders began to ignore these ratios.

I don't know why I'm surprised. No one seemed to notice that they were sold on the idea of buying cable TV and paying a monthly Bill to watch TV, with the big sales pitch being no commercials and lots of uninterrupted movies. Yet somehow, years later, we find ourselves watching TV with all the old commercials. But now are paying for it. Likewise, it seems that no one has noticed that in order to have TV in the near future, you will have no choice but to pay. It seems that the airwaves used to broadcast networks to your rabbit ears or antennas will be sold off for a profit and public television will disappear. I guess if you can't afford to pay for satellite or cable. It will someday look like a third world country where you have to go to the town square and stand in a crowd watching a TV provided by the government to get your news.

Speaking of things nobody seems to notice. Does anyone remember when just a few years ago. The fact that at that current moment new jobs being created were not showing very good numbers, and it was widely used to criticize the Bush administration. Over the last few years the publicize numbers for job creation have been good. But no one including the Bush administration has bothered to point this out.

Have you noticed that the advertising, we are all subjected to or bombarded by has taken on a different shade of misrepresentation. To touch briefly on real estate again. I have no problem with large franchises, but find it astounding. When I hear nationwide ads which refer to one of the large franchises, claiming that they have the most qualified and knowledgeable agents in the industry. Yet over the last few years are relatively small Association has has doubled in size. And I know a number of these people are new licensees and obviously not the most experienced and knowledgeable in the industry. However, some of these same agents have gone to work for these companies with nationwide commercials claiming to have the most knowledgeable and experienced agents. That's just to show that not even realtors are exempt, when it comes to this new era of advertising. Anyone who reads between the lines while watching advertisements of any kind can clearly see, that it's no longer about telling someone how good your product is and meaning it. But more about fooling people into buying your product. For example, if I buy a certain cologne. Will I really get a hard bodied 20-year-old with bionic breast. Or is the insurance company who claims that their aggressive effort to catch those who defraud the insurance companies are due to the fact they care so much about me, Really now is that being honest.

These are just a few of the things that make me wonder if anyone is still aware and able to recognize the load of ----that the average consumer is being feed on a daily basis.

I would love to hear from you with comments on some of the things that you see on commercials and other propaganda that insults the intelligence of anyone paying attention.

Countrywide, REO's, the Feds

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:43:57 -0500

Countrywide REO's and Forclosures 10/31/07

First of all, Happy Halloween. I don't know about you, but I'm so glad after raising my children and two of my grandchildren, that the days of being required to spend lots of money at Halloween, because the kids expect it are over.

I and many others are so happy to hear that Countrywide has come to what seem like an obvious and easy decision to renegotiate many of their loans. Why this took any thought at all is beyond me, because when lenders foreclose it is very costly to them. It makes a lot of sense to me that 5% on 100% of your money is better than foreclosing losing 25% of your money and then re-loaning the remaining 75% at 5%.

It's funny to me that as you watch the commercials for lenders, they always have a new advertising campaign to get you out of what they advertised last year as a great deal. The most current ads I'm seeing are to refinance out of your arm's.

Another reason, I believe, Countrywide and other lenders are better served by renegotiating is the other bad decision they repeatedly make when they do foreclose. That bad decision is to place their foreclosed on homes in the hands of the REO type companies. It never ceases to amaze me that these supposedly expert financiers continue to make this mistake.

Do they not know that these people are inefficient irreverent and unconcerned about liquidating their properties. Case in point on several occasions. I have dealt with REO type companies, while trying to help my buyer purchase a home repossessed by a lender. In each of these cases. I have found a contact person at the REO unreasonable with no sense of urgency and no respect for the needs or time frames required to consummate a successful sale. In dealing with the frustrations of this process. I have often imagined. The conversation between the REO Co. and the lender, who wants their money back and hopefully a sales price as close to possible as the outstanding loan. I visualize the lender contacting the REO Co. to ask "how is the sale of that property going". I then visualizes the rude
un-cooperative and often times unscrupulous represented the of the REO Co. telling the lender either. They need to reduce the price in order to generate a sale or they should take this very low offer, because that's the only way they're going to get rid of it. When in fact, several sales with higher offers could have been accomplished by their being more efficient with some sort of sense of urgency to complete the transaction. I'm sure that any Realtor who has been involved in one of these transactions can tell stories about REO companies requiring them to put out upfront expenses in order to list the property. Never really knowing if this company will live up to their obligations to reimburse the Realtor for their expenses.

Not only because I'm a Realtor but also because I believe in common sense and good business. I believe, a smart lender, especially in the current atmosphere would be well served to develop a relationship directly with a local Realtor in order to sell any foreclosures they might end up with.

I'm told by one of my associates that they've just announced. The feds will be reducing the interest-rates again. The things that are being done to correct the current debacle I hope will help but I think we will all find in time that our market is no longer investors or flippers. We will need to once again to focus on finding people who need a place to live a "HOME". I think this is the only real estate bubble that is not likely to burst. However there is still the problem of the artificially inflated prices that will have to correct in order for those who just want to live the American dream and own a home, to be able to reenter the market.

Now, if your children are raised. You don't have to take them out for razor blades and poison. Go find an adult Halloween party and have a ball! Don't forget the designated driver.

Can you choose not to live in a homeowners association?

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:05:42 -0500

Real Estate with no HOA,s 10-25-07

I've written about homeowners associations in the past, and it's no secret that I would not choose one. Choice is the key. As I stated before, if you choose to buy where you are governed by homeowners association, that is your choice. However, there should be a choice. In today's world, there are those who are always trying to see to it that you no longer have that choice.

To help explain the previous statement. I give the following examples. I'm not sure about other states, but Arizona has by referendum passed into law a requirement that each county have a land-use plan completed by a certain date. This has become an opportunity for those who want to see the rural way of life disappear. In the view of these people. Everyone should be in a high density development with no purpose in life but to work consume and pay interest on credit cards, car loans and mortgages.

Along with this, one of the major power companies in Arizona, has just done away with a line extension that had been free for many years. Their claim when they went to the Corporation commission was they could ask for less of a rate increase if they didn't have to subsidize line extensions. Of course, there's no doubt in my mind that they will get this back in the next rate increase. What's interesting is the private individual will now receive a $5,000 allowance toward the cost of construction as well as the developer. However, the developers will get $5,000 per lot. So to extrapolate if a developer builds a 200 lot subdivision, they will receive $1 million allowance toward extending power. However, mom-and-pop splitting their 10 acre parcel into two pieces so that their child or someone who buys the five acre parcel could pay from $10-$20000 to extend power. In my opinion. Just another way to inhibit growth not being done by developers in subdivisions with homeowners associations and the rules and expenses that go with that.

Unfortunately, the Corporation commission our commissioners are independently elected to office and are therefore under the same special-interest pressures that already pollute our country. I am sure even without research that the Corporation commissions were originally designed to govern a semi-governmental utility and their purpose was to assure that all citizens receive power at a reasonable price. However, if you need to be reelected and are under pressure by lobbyist or developers, environmentalist and no growth advocates, you might forget your mission.

You see, a lot of our politicians nowadays have forgotten about our right to own and control property. Much of today's regulation, specifically infringes on this right. Something I have become very aware of are the land-use plans, creating blanket regions. Basically, an overlay, saying, we have decided this area may only be used for this purpose or this area is 20 acre zoning and this area is one acres zoning. However, those developing these plans don't seem to take into consideration that they have just made a decision for a private property owners property.

In my opinion, this comes from the fact that it is much easier for a government bureaucracy or even elected official to sign in or vote for unconstitutional regulations than it is for the private individual to see a lawsuit through to a satisfactory conclusion. Of course there are attorneys fees which are usually more terrifying than the loss of rights. To compound the cost of a lawsuit these types of cases, must be seasoned in order to move into higher courts. Seasoned means they have to be heard in the lower court then appealed to the higher court. Then appealed to a yet higher court. That's why they call it the Court of Appeals, because you are appealing the decision of a lower court. Not at all, an expert. I believe the Supreme Court will not hear this type of case if it has not already been seasoned through the lower courts.

What does this have to do with homeowners associations you ask? If you watch closely, you will see ever-increasing regulation land use plans, zoning restrictions and other pressures that force, more and more people into subdivisions. One way this is accomplished is by making the cost of developing infrastructure to a property so expensive that only big money concerns can afford to do it. Of course, those investors must spread the cost of a subdivision process and the cost increases required by regulation imposed on subdividers to the home buyers.

If this trend continues, I suggest we all invest in apartments. Interestingly, I heard recently on a news cast. I believe it was the new Fox Business Network,( but I'm not positive about that) that those investors and average homebuyers who have been caught in subprime debacle and foreclosed on, are paying more for rent now then their mortgage would have been. It seems that the more people who are foreclosed on, the more demand, there is for rentals. If the cost of homes continues to be driven up by regulation, that is probably unconstitutional. The rental market should do very well.

Where the hell is Snowflake, Arizona

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:11:47 -0500

Where the hell is Snowflake, Arizona. 11/12/07

Thought I'd take a minute today to tell my readers a little about Snowflake, Arizona. Snowflake Arizona is a member of the White Mountain community. By this I mean, we have kind of a regional economic community. Within a few minutes drive from Snowflake are the towns of Lakeside, Pinetop, Concho, Heber, Overgaard, Springerville, St. John's, Eager, Show Low, and Holbrook.

Snowflake is located on the high plateau, just north of the pine tree forest. I like to refer to it as the Juniper forest. We have a mild four season climate, which is quickly becoming the preferred area for developers of year around family housing. Snowflake also has an LDS or a Mormon Temple. Only one of two in Arizona. From Snowflake it is about 16 miles from Show Low and Lakeside/Pinetop, which have grown together and are almost one in the same. There can find pine trees many second homes, fishing lakes and amenities for the ski industry, which is at Sunrise on the White Mountain Apache reservation. There also a number of reservation fishing lakes, between Pinetop and sunrise ski resort. If you travel from Pinetop has sunrise become to Greer Arizona, which is another area of second homes fishing lakes and outdoor activities. The area between Pinetop and Greer is well known for the beautiful colors in the forest at change of season.

I chose Snowflake because although we have snow, approximately 5 to 8 inches four or five times a year and on rare occasions more than that. We have access to all the things mentioned above, without the worries of forest fires, snow that sets for months and turns black, cleaning up after pine trees and much colder temperatures with Sun and views bocked by the beautiful pine trees. Not to mention the considerable difference in real estate prices. I love these areas mentioned above, but find it much easier to drive there in less than 30 minutes and enjoy them, than actually living there.

To answer the question in the title of this blog "where the hell is Snowflake Arizona" we are in northeast Arizona and considered a part of the White Mountains although we are more of a high plateau or foothills to the White Mountains our elevation is between 5800 and 6200 feet. We are 3 hours from Phoenix and 1.75 hours from Flagstaff.
Some of the great features of Snowflake include a fantastic aquifer with millions of acre feet to draw from. This is in contrast to many towns in Arizona, who have water problems that threaten to get worse. We also have a very wonderful small town atmosphere. One of our tourist attractions are the historic homes that have been refurbished for the enjoyment of local residents and visitors. Our Chamber of Commerce is located in the historic Freeman home, along with our Integrity Realty branch office. This home contains some of the most beautiful antiques I've ever seen. We also have a commercial building, which was one of the original stores and has been refurbished as an ice cream parlor antique store and meeting facility. I'm am honest, when I say that I believe our school system is a great place for children to learn. In contrast to big-city schools. There must be somewhere between six and eight ball fields in town. Another wonderful feature that I think I most enjoyed about Snowflake, are the beautiful green irrigated pastors were you may see the horses, cattle, or even sometimes buffalo grazing. Much of the property in Snowflake/Taylor proper is irrigated. This stems from the fact that White Mountain lakes just a few miles south of Snowflake there is a natural spring that seems to come shooting from the ground. Out of nowhere. I'm told, and I haven't verified this that 12 to 1600 gallons per minute and come from this spring. For as long as the old-timers here can remember. This feeds into White Mountain lake and is used for irrigation during the summer months. This area was home to many Indians and the ruins in the area will verify that. We have the White Mountain Apache reservation to the South and the Navajo reservation to the South.

From the real estate perspective, we were only discovered a few years ago, and the prices are still considerably lower than other parts of the state but not for long. You can find 40 acre parcels from the worst at $30,000-$40,000 to the best from 80,000 to 150,000. We have new and resale homes from $175,000 to $450,00 and at the high end as much as $ 1.2 million. It is an exciting time for Snowflake, because developers have discovered the area and understand its potential. There are many subdivisions being plated as we speak in Snowflake, and the surrounding communities. There's an area between Taylor and White Mountain lakes on Highway 77 called Solomon lakes. This has been beautiful, irrigated pasture with several lakes, but has now been slated for 56 new-homes in the one million to 1.5 million range. It is also a subdivision near White Mountain lakes nearing completion with airport runway access from your home.

If you'd like to know more about Snowflake, Arizona visit our website at www.integrityrealty.com go to tour of Snowflake for photos. On the other beautiful features are the antique streetlights whining Main St.. These have wrought iron rings with potted flowers in the summer and lighted snowflakes in the winter. You will to see those photos on the tour. Or call me at 928-243-0199

Last but not least, although we do get snow and interesting fact about Snowflake, Arizona is how it got its name. Snowflake was founded in by a group of Mormon settlers in two of the leaders of the founding party were named Mr. Snow and you guessed it. Mr. Flake

Hope you found this interesting.

Is it your home and do you want to live forever?

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 11:29:22 -0500

Is it your home 10/11/07.

Well I am back on my soapbox. This morning in my morning ritual of watching Fox news. While, I have my coffee and contemplate the day. Another story from California, the land of many rules. This story pertains to smoking, and I know many people believe that no one should smoke. In fact, I wish I didn't, but I do. I have recently changed from cigarettes to a pipe, which I hope is a little better for me. After seeing a program on the history Channel, where they actually had a still where they cooked up tobacco juice and different chemicals. I felt like a pipe might at least have natural tobacco without all the additives.

Anyway, this story on Fox news was about a smaller town in California, where they had just outlawed smoking in your own home. Now being a property rights advocate. I have long railed against a number of things that I find offensive. There are property taxes, which in my opinion are the most egregious type of tax, because if you somehow in this world, you managed to pay your home off. You should not have to worry about having it sold for taxes, if you're not fortunate enough to have the money necessary to pay these taxes in your old age. Of course, as you probably have seen in my previous blogs with people being commonly forced into subdivisions with an H. O. A., you would probably have the same problem, even without property taxes. But now these busy bodies are to determine what you can do in your own home to your own body. Wouldn't their efforts be much better spent finding alternative energy? Breathing the smog in California is probably the equivalent of a three pack a day habit.

When I see these kinds of things I am always reminded of what my father used to say to me. He would tell me in this life, there are sheep and shepherds, which do you want to be? What makes me think of this is the fact that we seem to have so many sheep that are so easily herded. When it comes to California, I always marvel at the fact that those in charge of government today. Most probably are the Berkeley hippies or a least from that generation. It's funny, those who railed against the man, have become the man, and even worse. Are these people not from the generation of LSD, free love, live and let live?

I have heard for years that to quit smoking will add 10 years to your life. My question is are these the 10 years that your in a nursing home with bedsores and lousy care, while spending your children's inheritance for the privilege of ten more years living a very poor quality of life?

Our society puts so much stock in keeping people alive longer. I'm never quite understood what the purpose of those acclimating us to this mindset really is. A couple years ago, my aunt was in the hospital in Phoenix. My brother and I traveled there to see her. While there we were surprised to have my aunt tell us that my 93-year-old uncle was in the same hospital. Of course, we ask why? She said he was being circumcised! Which was even more surprising, considering he was 93 years old. Two years later, he passed away. He and his wife had been married 74 years. Obviously from a generation were marrying earlier was not uncommon. The point being, the doctors made money the hospitals made money and my poor 93-year-old uncle got circumcised. Now this poor man had suffered from debilitating headaches for 40 years and had not been unable to see for five years. And we were doing him a great favor by keeping him alive. My aunt survived him and is still alive.

Back to the question of why we want to extend someone's life, to 100 years or more. I have not figured that out yet. Number one, can we not encounter enough struggle in eighty years? Number two brings me back to the reason for my story in the previous paragraph. My cousin and his wife are now in their mid-70s. He has had his own medical problems losing part of his intestine, making it very difficult to get far from a home. Yet they have just spent several years, taking care of my uncle who died at 95 and are now visiting my aunt on a daily basis in an assisted care facility. I would say, at 75. This is a little more difficult then it would've been at 55 or 60. At 75 I will probably be lucky to have the energy to live independently. How very difficult it must be for my cousins to care for their elderly parents at their advanced age. Now you consider that you worked and saved so that your children would not have to bear the expense of supporting you in your later years. But now, you must work and save to have enough money to support yourself in later years and probably your parents who have outlived their retirement income.

So those of you in the land of many rules there is still hope. You can leave California, and all the rules behind and if you don't live more than 20 years, they may not catch up to you. Unfortunately, many of the egregious rules, regulations and poor court decisions start in California, and soon spread like a cancer to the rest of the country.

So don't waste your life depriving yourself of the things you enjoy, so that you can find yourself at 103. Never having enjoyed life, but having outlived your retirement income, while being sad, lonely and poorly cared for in those extra 20 years, you wanted so badly.

Investing in Real Estate Today?

Integrity Realty & Assoc, L.L.C. — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 16:18:46 -0500

Should I invest in real estate today? 10-08-2007.

For individual investors. There are a few things, I think you should know. Over the last few years. I have had many people in my office pounding their chest bragging on what great real estate investors. A lot of the same people are now nowhere to be found. This is because they were individual investors sometimes investing with the equity in their homes.

The problem with individual investors in many cases is that they are just finding out about the hotspots. When the hotspots are at or near their peak when there is little or no appreciation still available, in that market. When an area is superheated. It may not be the best time to invest in that area. This is usually the time that the larger investors take profits and get out. When the larger professional investors pull out of a market like this. It is the beginning of a correction. It's almost like trying to time the stock market, and very few people can claim to have done that successfully.

For the individual investor, discovering and betting on emerging markets, although still not perfect, may be a little easier. I have a friend who became a real estate broker several years after I sold him property. He made a great deal of money on the fringes of a superheated market. In fact, he said to me once. People were in disbelief that he was buying property in these outlying areas.

I live in an area that was only discovered about five years ago. We are in an area in the White Mountains of Arizona in the Northeast part of the state. I have a lot of fun, when I call people in the Northeast or areas away from Arizona. When I tell them I'm from Snowflake they laughed as if there could not be snow in Arizona. There is only cactus and rattlesnakes, they think! I find it funny, because being from Kansas City Kansas as a young man. Relatives who lived in Arizona sent us little potted cactus as souvenirs from Arizona, so we believed the same thing.

There are many areas of Arizona, where the prices have escalated out of the reach of even the upper-middle-class. There are also many areas where water is of great concern. We in Snowflake set on the largest aquifer in Arizona, and probably the western United States, named the Coconino sandstone aquifer. Being three hours from Phoenix, and until recently, having slow and sometimes dangerous two-lane roads to our area, we were Arizona's best kept secret. We had just been discovered over the last two years, and it seem like prices only seem to begin rising toward the end of 05. Now the current market has slowed, as we all know and we have seen a leveling thus far. However, having more water then most communities in Arizona, and more than a large city could use in my life time. We are primed for when the market comes back. And it will!

I use this as an example, because what I will probably see as a lot of the hottest markets did, is professional large investors moving into the area very soon to drive the prices to new highs and peaks. And then as I've seen in the hottest markets the amateur individual investors, will hear from friends and others, how much money is being made in this market. After hearing how hot the market is they will run out and find some money by borrowing from their home equity or their father-in-law maybe even selling some stocks. Then after the prices have been driven to the point mentioned before, where any significant appreciation has already occurred.They will then purchase a property at or near the top for that cycle. Only to find out the gave the professional investors a way out with big profits, leaving the little guy holding the bag.

Now don't get me wrong in the Phoenix market. There were those who were fortunate enough to buy a home two years before the bubble burst and received some significant appreciation. If they sold at the right time. However, in my opinion, this is much riskier than finding through research and area on the verge of expansion and significant growth. This kind of investment will not get you instant gratification but can be a very good investment over a five or 10 year period.

Even as a real estate broker with investment experience, living in the White Mountains. and three hours from Phoenix, and being busy here not taking days and weeks, spending time in Phoenix, I was slow to realize what was happening in that market. By the time I did realize what was happening in that market. It was near the top, and I knew it would be very risky to get in at that point. It was very likely that this market was close to, if not at the top.

So, if you're still looking for a place where an investment in real estate has a good chance of producing significant profits over the next five to ten years. A place like Snowflake, Arizona (of course, because I sell real estate here, I mentioned Snowflake first) or other areas that will see the flight of those driven out by the stresses pressure, traffic, crime etc. of a previous hot market may be a very good place for investment.

Places like Phoenix and Las Vegas have now experienced the boom and large increases in population. Many retired people, (or at least people who are old enough or smart enough to have accumulated some wealth) don't know their own town anymore. The lifestyle they used to love has been transformed into something totally different. The social makeup of the population may be altogether different than it had been before the irrational growth occurred. They are going to be looking for some place to escape to. Probably some place that may not have all the amenities or culture that they are used to having convenient to them. But if they're anything like me. They are realizing that as often as they use the museum, concert halls, ballparks etc. a three-hour drive to enjoy them is a small price to pay to escape the undesirable aspects of the city. The other 340 days a year.

So consider calling me for a place I believe is emerging in this fashion, but if not me. It might be worth your time to investigate areas like I have described. If you're from Arizona, you will know what I mean. When I say oh to have invested in Payson, Prescott, Sedona or Flagstaff 10 years ago.